UMass basketball team looks to gain rebounding edge

The experiment worked pretty well Wednesday, to where it might not be considered an experiment much longer.

With the point guard question settled, and Ricky Harris in charge, the University of Massachusetts men’s basketball team is prepared to tackle another major issue as it faces Holy Cross Saturday afternoon in Worcester.

The game at the DCU Center gives UMass (3-4) a chance to improve to .500.

It also provides another test in the rebounding category.

On Wednesday, UMass won the game even though it flunked that test, surrendering 28 offensive boards to Quinnipiac.

The Minutemen were outrebounded 46-29. Holy Cross is averaging nearly five rebounds per game more than its opponents, making the Crusaders another challenge on the glass.

“I think it’s going to take more rebounding effort,” UMass coach Derek Kellogg said as he set the team’s sights on Holy Cross (2-6), which has beaten Marist and Brown in the past week to shake off an 0-6 start.

“You have to get more guys going to the boards. You have to get your guards crashing the glass,” Kellogg said.

Harris scored 19 points with six assists. He looks to be settling in at point guard, where he was moved from shooting guard last week.

UMass knew it was facing trouble on the boards against Quinnipiac, which had been outrebounding its previous opponents by 10.4 a game.

Similarly, in Holy Cross’ two victories, the Crusaders have owned a 71-55 rebounding edge.

Two starters, 6-foot-9 Andrew Keister and 6-4 Mike Cavataio, are combining to average nearly 16 a game.

UMass could be without a potential rebounding source off the bench Saturday.

Hashim “Big City” Bailey has been fighting a groin injury for most of the season.

After missing two games, the 6-foot-10, 275-pounder played 14 minutes against Rutgers last weekend, and 25 minutes against Michigan State the next night.

Kellogg concedes he might have played Bailey a little too much. He had few options against the bigger lineups of the opponents, though.

The injury worsened, and Bailey missed Wednesday’s game. He has not practiced this week.

In his place, 6-7 redshirt sophomore Matt Hill had four points, two rebounds and a steal in nine minutes.

Neither Bailey nor Hill is seen as a premier player, though Bailey started against Michigan State.

But either could help a UMass team that will need a group effort if it expects to compete on the glass.

Hill’s career has been ravaged by injuries, most recently an Achilles tear early last season at Memphis, just when it looked as if he might get more playing time.

The injuries have slowed his quickness and affected his lateral movement. But Wednesday, Kellogg commended Hill for playing with toughness, a quality he thinks the Minutemen as a whole need more.

As for rebounding from the guards, Anthony Gurley is averaging 4.1 per game, a figure that will likely rise if his minutes remain above 30 per game.

Relieved of his duties at point guard, David Gibbs could contribute more than his current 2.4 average. And Harris is averaging three rebounds per game, which could remain steady even in his new role at the point.